China’s ambassador to Kabul, Zhao Xing, has announced Beijing’s readiness to construct shelters and residential townships for Afghan refugees. The pledge was made during a meeting on Wednesday with the Taliban’s Minister of Refugees, Abdul Kabir.
According to a statement released by the Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees on Sunday, the Chinese ambassador highlighted the long-standing diplomatic and political relations between the two countries and reaffirmed China’s commitment to continued economic development and investment cooperation in Afghanistan.
Zhao Xing also expressed China’s willingness to provide humanitarian aid for Afghan refugees and facilitate the construction of housing for them within Afghanistan.
During the meeting, Abdul Kabir raised concerns over the forced deportation of Afghan refugees from neighbouring countries, stating that it has significantly disrupted domestic aid distribution efforts.
Both Iran and Pakistan have recently intensified their expulsion of Afghan refugees. Iranian authorities have announced plans to deport all undocumented Afghan migrants in the coming months while imposing further restrictions on their employment opportunities. Meanwhile, Pakistan has set a deadline of the end of March for Afghan refugees with temporary residency to leave the country and has also announced plans to relocate all Afghan refugees from Islamabad and Rawalpindi to other areas.
The Taliban’s Minister of Refugees reiterated the group’s plans to establish residential townships for Afghan refugees and called for cooperation from humanitarian organisations in this effort. Abdul Kabir assured the Chinese ambassador that any aid provided would be distributed transparently and fairly to those in need.
